Photoelectrophoretic imaging system

ABSTRACT

An imaging machine having a generally flat plate electrode on which images of opaque or transparency originals are formed from a photoelectrophoretic ink. The flat plate electrode travels along a generally linear path past various roller electrodes. At one roller electrode the photoelectrophoretic ink is applied to the flat plate electrode. At another roller electrode the ink is exposed to light and electric field. At yet another roller electrode, ink in imagewise configuration is transferred to an appropriate substrate.

United States Patent Egnaczak et a1.

[ 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] PHOTOELECTROPHORETIC IMAGING SYSTEM [72] Inventors: Raymond K. Egnaczalr, Williamson; Gino F. Squasaoni, Pittsford, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1969 [2l] Appl. No.: 876,983

[52] U.S.(I ass 1 51 Int. Cl. (:03; 15/04 581 FieldofSearch .;....3ss/3;204/1s1,30o

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,477,934 11/1969 Carreira ....204/3o0 3,484,162 12/1969 Clark ..355/3 Primary Examiner-John M. l-loran Attorney-James J. Ralabate, David C. Petre and Michael H. Shanahan [5 7] ABSTRACT An imaging machine having a generally flat plate electrode on which images of opaque or transparency originals are formed from a photoelectrophoretic ink. The flat plate electrode travels along a generally linear path past various roller electrodes. At one roller electrode the photoelectrophoretic ink is applied to the flat plate electrode. At another roller electrode the ink is exposed to light and electric field. At yet another roller electrode, ink in imagewise configuration is transferred to an appropriate substrate.

22 Claims, 34 Drawing Figures PAIENIEW 1m I 3,647,290

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1. Imaging apparatus comprising a substantially flat shuttle electrode supported for travel between park and turn positions, at least one imaging electrode supported adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and imaging electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation to form an image as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode from photoelectrophoretic ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field; and, elevator means for moving said shuttle and imaging electrodes to mutually operative positions as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode.
 2. Imaging apparatus comprising a substantially flat shuttle electrode supported for travel between park and turn positions, at least one imaging electrode supported adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and imaging electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation to form an image as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode from photoelectrophoretic ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field; and, means for cleaning said electrodes after the formation of an image for reuse of the electrodes to form subsequent images.
 3. Imaging apparatus comprising a substantially flat shuttle electrode supported for travel between park and turn positions, at least one imaging electrode supported adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and imaging electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation to form an image as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode from photoelectrophoretic ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field; and, cleaning means positioned adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode to clean an image bearing surface thereon as it travels past the cleaning means.
 4. Imaging apparatus comprising a substantially flat shuttle electrode supported for travel between park and turn positions, at least one imaging electrode supported adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and imaging electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation to form an image as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode from photoelectrophoretic ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field, cleaning means positioned adjacent said path between the park and turn positions for cleaning the shuttle electrode as it travels thereby; and, transfer means positioned adjacent said path for transferring an image formed on the shuttle electrode to the transfer means as the shuttle electrode travels thereby.
 5. Imaging apparatus comprising a substantially flat shuttle electrode supported for travel between park and turn positions, at least one imaging electrode supported adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and imaging electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation to form an image as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode from photoelectrophoretic ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field; and, transfer means positioned adjacent the path of said shuttle electrode having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between the transfer means and shuttle electrode for removing an image formed on the shuttle electrode as it travels thereby.
 6. Imaging apparatus comprising a substantially flat shuttle electrode supported for travel between park and turn positions, at least one imaging electrode supported adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and imaging electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation to form an image as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode from photoelectrophoretic ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field, transfer means positioned adjacent the path traveled by said shuttle electrode for removing images formed on the shuttle electrode; and, elevator means for moving the shuttle and imaging electrodes into mutually operative positions for the formation of an image on the shuttle electrode and for moving the shuttle electrOde and transfer means into mutually operative positions for the removing of images formed on said shuttle electrode.
 7. Imaging apparatus comprising a substantially flat shuttle electrode supported for travel between park and turn positions, at least one imaging electrode supported adjacent the path traveled by the shuttle electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and imaging electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation to form an image as the shuttle electrode travels past the imaging electrode from photoelectrophoretic ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field, and a developing electrode positioned adjacent the imaging electrode and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said shuttle and developing electrodes and wherein said exposure means includes means to expose photoelectrophoretic ink between the shuttle and developing electrodes to an imagewise configuration of electromagnetic radiation substantially the same as that to which the ink between the shuttle and imaging electrodes is exposed.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including elevator means for moving the shuttle and imaging electrodes to mutually operative positions.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 further including elevator means for moving the shuttle and developing electrodes to mutually operative positions.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 further including transfer means for removing an image formed on one of said electrodes.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7 further including transfer means positioned adjacent the path traveled by said shuttle electrode for removing images formed on the shuttle electrode; and, elevator means for moving said shuttle and imaging electrodes into mutually operative positions for the formation of an image and for moving said shuttle electrode and transfer means into mutually operative positions for the removal of images formed on the shuttle electrode.
 12. The machine of claim 10 further including cleaning means positioned adjacent the path traveled by said shuttle electrode to clean an image bearing surface of the shuttle electrode, elevator means for moving said shuttle and imaging electrodes into mutually operative positions for formation of an image on the shuttle electrode, for moving said shuttle and developing electrodes into mutually operative positions for exposing an image on the shuttle electrode to a light image and for subjecting said image to an electric field and for moving said shuttle electrode and transfer means into mutually operative positions for the removal of an image from the shuttle electrode.
 13. An imaging machine comprising a generally flat shuttle electrode supported for travel along a generally linear path between park and turn positions, a first imaging roller electrode positioned adjacent said path and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between the electrodes as the shuttle electrode travels thereby, inking means for applying photoelectrophoretic ink to at least one of said electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation for formation of an image from ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field; and, a transfer roller electrode positioned adjacent said path and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between said transfer and shuttle electrodes with said transfer electrode effecting removing of an image on said shuttle electrode as it travels thereby.
 14. The machine of claim 13 wherein said exposure means includes means to expose an image on the shuttle electrode to electromagnetic radiation as it travels past the transfer electrode.
 15. The machine of claim 13 wheRein said exposure means includes means to expose an image on the shuttle electrode to electromagnetic radiation in imagewise configuration as it travels past the transfer electrode.
 16. The machine of claim 13 further including elevator means for moving the transfer and shuttle electrodes into mutually operative positions.
 17. An imaging machine comprising a generally flat shuttle electrode supported for travel along a generally linear path between park and turn positions, a first imaging roller electrode positioned adjacent said path and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between the electrodes as the shuttle electrode travels thereby, inking means for applying photoelectrophoretic ink to at least one of said electrodes, exposure means for exposing photoelectrophoretic ink on one of said electrodes to electromagnetic radiation for formation of an image from ink exposed to electromagnetic radiation and subjected to electric field; and, a second imaging roller positioned adjacent the first and having means for coupling to a voltage source to establish an electric field between the second imaging and shuttle electrodes and wherein said exposure means includes means to expose photoelectrophoretic ink between said shuttle and second imaging electrodes to substantially the same imagewise configuration of electromagnetic radiation to which the ink between the shuttle and first imaging electrodes is exposed.
 18. The machine of claim 17 further including elevator means for moving said first imaging and shuttle electrode into mutually operative positions.
 19. The machine of claim 17 wherein said inking means includes means for applying photoelectrophoretic ink to said first imaging electrode.
 20. The machine of claim 19 further including first elevator means for moving said first imaging and shuttle electrodes into mutually operative positions.
 21. The machine of claim 19 further including a second imaging roller electrode and a transfer roller electrode positioned adjacent said path and having means for coupling to voltage sources establish an electric field between themselves and the shuttle electrode.
 22. The machine of claim 21 further including elevator means coupled to each of said roller electrodes to move a roller electrode to an operative position during travel of the shuttle electrode past a roller electrode. 